The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $12.894 million in grants to 18 tribal communities in Oklahoma to improve or create housing or economic development opportunities for low- to moderate-income families.

HUD officials said that the grants are provided through the Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Program to support community development and affordable housing activities.

Officials say recipients can use the funding to rehabilitate housing or build new housing or to buy land to support new housing construction. The funding can also be used to build infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer facilities.